Meter terminal



y 9, 1931. w. BRADSHAW E'I 'AL I 11,806,327

METER TERMINAL F iled June 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES: r IINVENTORS MW/am /7 Brads/ aw and 2g W Wq/gfir 6. Ny/ws ATIIORNEYMay-.19, 1931. w. BRA D Sl -lAw ET AL 1,806,327

METER TERMINAL Filed June 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Shee 2 INVENTORS WITNESSES:

l/|//7//"am /7. Bradshaw and Iva/gr 6. My/fus ATTORNEY Patented May 19,1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM BRADSHAW AND WALTER G. MYLIUS,OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ANDMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA METER TERMINALApplication filed June 27, 1925. Serial No. 40,078.

Our invention relates to meter terminals, particularly to terminals forwatthour me- 'ters.

provide a meter terminal that shall be simple and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operatlon.

In watthour meter service, when the meters are left unattended by thepower companies for any considerable length of time, there is danger, incertain localities, of the theft ofenergy from the meter circuit by thetapping of conductors on the meter leads so that the meter will notoperate.

To prevent the above-mentioned occurrence, it has been customary to useconductors that are concentrically arranged and I have provided aconnecter or terminal that will facilitate the connection of the meterin service. The terminal is of substantially bayonet type to receive thetelescopically or conce1itrically related conductors that so protecteach other as to render the tapping thereof exceedingly difll'cult,andpractically impossible to restore to its original position if tappingis attempted.

Figure 1 of theaccompanying drawings is a front elevational view of awatthour meter with the cover member of a terminal compartment thereofomitted.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view, partially in elevation and partially insection, of a portion of the device shownin Fig. 1 with the sectionedportion thereof taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, 7

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail elevational and sectional views, respectively,of an insulating block or terminal supporting member employed in ourinvention, and

, Figs. Sand 6 are detail views of terminal screws or studstherefor.

The devicecomprises, in general, a watthourmeter 1 of usualconstruotionembodying a main casing 2 in which are disposed a rotating disc 3, adial register 4 and the other operating parts of the instrument, and

a terminal compartment 5 projecting from the casing 2. The compartment 5may comprise a box-like sheet metal portion that is preferablyintegrally united with the casing 2 and is provided with openingsthrough which two sets of terminal leads 7 and 8 extend.

The terminal leads 7, and the correlated parts thereof to which ourinvention more specifically relates, comprise a molded insulating block10 having substantially cupshape recesses lland 12 therein and openings14 and 15 communicating with the recesses 11 and 12, respectively.

Studs 17 and 18 are provided with similar head portions 19 and 20,respectively, of substantially-cup-shape for disposition, respectively,in the recesses Hand 12 in the insulating block 10, and stud portions 21and 22 to project through the openings 14 and 15 in the block 10 andthrough a wall 23 of the compartment 5. The studs 17 and 18 are securedto the wall 23 by means of a plate 24, washers 25 and nuts 26. f

An entering opening 28 in the block 10 has a longitudinal axistransversely. intersecting the parallel axes of the studs 17 and 18. Thelatter are provided with openings 30 and 31 respectively of difierentdiameters that are disposed coaxially with the axis of the opening 28.An auxiliary holding screw 32 may be provided for extension through anopening 33 in the block 10 into the wall 23.

Referring to Fig. 1, a tap or, plug connector 34, for cooperation withthe terminal studs17 and 18 in the-block 10 is shown in a position whichit wouldoccupy just before being inserted into operative position.

The connector 34 comprises an inner c0nductor 35, a body of insulation36 thereon, a tubular conductor 37 surrounding the insulating material36 and a body of insulating 1na- 't1cula.rforn1sof our invention changes,may

insulated terminal members embedded terial 38 surrounding the conductor37; The conductor 37 is preferably Constructed similar to atwistedstrand cable to form a homogeneous conductor of tubular form, closelyimpressing the insulating'cover 36 of the inner conductor 35, andisprovided, at its outer end, with'a contact ferrule39.

In connecting thelterminal 34 to the meter, it 1 is passed 'along theaxis of the opening 2,8,unt-il the inner conductor-35 istelescopicallydisposed in the opening 31 of the head portion of th'e stud 18 and theferrule 39 is in the opening of the head portion 19 of the stud 17.Inthisposition, clamping screws 40cand 41 disposed in, the outer ends ofthe stud heads 19 and 20, respectively, are turned'into clampingengagementwith the ferrule 39 and; conductor '35, respectively, afterwhich a cover memberfof usual form "(not shown) is placed over theterminalcompartment 5 and sealed in the usual manner. l "'In the above.described construction, the connection of the conductors 35 and 37 totheir respective terminals is greatly facilitated and since the terminal34 constitutes a plurality of alternately telescopicallyirelated{insulated and conducting elements, tampering therewith asabovedescribed is rendered more difficult. H f

:While we haveshown and described parbe efiected therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof as set forthin.

the'appended claims. i a I WQ'ClitlIIl as ourinvention:

" li'The combination with electrical apparatus comprisingan insulatingbody, spaced therein "having contact "sufrfaces longitudinally spaced:along, 'tances laterallytrom, the axis of ing in w the insulating body;

and; disposed different dissaid body also having lateral openingstherein :opposite a; portion for oper cor said contact surfaces,threaded metal, sleeves "in said lateral openings and binding screwsinsaidfsleeveacf a terminal lead comprising plurality-of conductorsinsulated from eachfother and with'one conductor thereof projectinglongitudinally beyond an end of another conductor and alongsaid axis to"adaptsaid conductors for individual co operationwith said} Contactsurfacest 2;: In combination, aIsupporting-wall plate, an insulatingblock havinganinnerfrecess and right-angularly related openings leadingthereto, one of said openings, being for the reception of a removableterminal mem- .fbe'r,fand a 'cooperating'terminal stud having 1 1 ragement with said terminal tioni pro ect in'g througn the other openingin In combinatioma supporting-wallplate, i

insulatingblock having terminal chamiportion of the stud. i

an open r recess and a porsaid wall-plate iforsupporting the blockthereon, and a binding screw in the cup-shape -45. In combination withalterminal lead embodying *two concentrically related conductors one ofwhich projects beyond the end of the other for connection with anelectro-responsive device,of terminal means on said device comprising aterminal block of insulating material having recesses L ftherein and anopening extending laterally through said block communicating with saidrecesses, terminal studs in sa d recesses havlng conductor recelvingportions 111 alignmentwith the axis of said opening proportioned toreceive the respective concen-V trically related conductors, and meanson longitudinally said studs accessibleitrom, the face of said 7terminal block forflsecuring thel respective conductors' thereto. I a Ia 5. In combination with terminal lead embodying two concentricallyrelated conductors one ofwhich projects longitudinally beyond the endoftheother' for connection Wltllflli electro-responsive device, ofterminal means on said device comprising a terminal therein an openingextending laterally through saidbloc'k communicating having conductorreceiving portions in alignment with thejaxis,ofs qidfopeningproportloned to receive the respective concentrically relatedcondllctor'sy'means on said studs accessible from: the raceofsaidterminalblock {for secur ng the respective conductors thereto, andmeans for-closing said recesses.

, In testimony whereof, we. have hereunto subscribed o'ur'names,thisfiethfday"of une,

1925. 7. I WILLIAM BRADSHAW;

W LTE -e; vLI sr;

g V with said recesses, terminal studs n said recesses block ofinsulating material having recesses the bl oick andthrough saidwallplate for sup- A "portingthe blockbn theplate- A

